Fly Fishing The Platte River MichiganThe Platte River of Michigan is much, much smaller than the large Platte River that begins in Colorado. It's a medium size tributary of Lake Michigan. The stream has a resident population of trout but also a good annual run of both steelhead and salmon.

Michigan's Platte River is often challenging when it comes to catching steelhead. It's waters are often very clear and shallow.

The stream's headwaters start above Bronson Lake, flow into the lake, through Platte Lake and finally into Lake Michigan. It's the water downstream of Bronson Lake that's most popular and productive.

The bottom consist of cobble, gravel, rock and sand. Parts of it often have deadfalls. There's undercut banks and plenty of places for trout to hide. Most of the cover is in the upper section of the river below Bronson Lake. The farther downstream you go, the wider the stream gets.

Steelhead and salmon fishing is best in the lower sections of the river. It probably averages between 25 to 40 feet in most places. It gets over sixty feet wide above Platte Lake and the deeper water provides better places for the steelhead. The water slows down some and there's plenty of gravel runs for spawning steelhead and salmon.

There's about ten miles of water between Bronson and Platte Lakes. The trout still exit in the larger part of the river and seem to be a product of the size of the river. They are much larger in the lower sections but naturally, not as easy to catch as the smaller trout in the upper reaches.

This river also has excellent hatches of aquatic insects. Stoneflies, caddisflies and mayflies are plentiful. Downstream of Platte Lake is usually not very productive, has little access and a boat is required to fish it. Migrating fish can be taken but all in all, it isn't considered prime water.

Fly fishing the Platte River can be challenging at times. It can be technical at times. But all things considered it is one of Michigan's best trout, steelhead and salmon streams. i

Seasons:The season varies with the species and location.Spring:Springtime is the best time for trout because of the numerous hatches. Steelhead can be caught as late as the end of April depending on the weather.Summer:Summertime continues to be a good time for trout.Fall:Salmon first enter the river and the steelhead follow.Steelhead begin entering the Platte River as early asmiddle of September. The fishing is good throughout theFall. Trout fishing remains good during the Fall.Winter:All but the coldest days of Winter can be good forsteelhead. The extremely cold water of January andFebruary can make the fish sluggish but otherwise,fishing remains good throughout the Winter. .

Options For Selecting Flies:1. Email us (sales@perfectflystore.com)with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response.

2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide which flies you need.

3. Email us (sales@perfectflystore.com)with a budget for flies and we will select them to match the budget and get them to you in time for your fly fishing trip.

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Fishing report: 09/30/18 Lots of Coho salmon are in the river and being caught.